President Trump to Nominate Two GW Alumni for Top Posts

The president confirmed plans to nominate GW alumni William Barr, J.D. ’77, for attorney general and Heather Nauert, B.A. ’93, as UN ambassador.

William Barr (l) will be nominated as attorney general, and Heather Nuart (r) will be nominated as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. (Barr photo courtesy Justice Department, Nauert photo courtesy State Department)

December 07, 2018

Two George Washington University alumni, William Barr, J.D. ’77, and Heather Nauert, B.A. ‘93, will be nominated as attorney general and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, respectively, President Donald Trump confirmed Friday.

Mr. Barr, a GW Law alumnus, was the president’s “first choice from day one,” Mr. Trump told reporters, adding he believes that Mr. Barr will “serve with great distinction.”

Mr. Barr served as attorney general from 1991 to 1993 during President George H.W. Bush’s administration and is currently a lawyer at international law firm Kirkland & Ellis.

If confirmed, Mr. Barr would again lead the Justice Department, which acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker has overseen since former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ departure from the position.

Ms. Nauert, who attended Mount Vernon College, now the Mount Vernon Campus, was an anchor and correspondent at Fox News from 1996 to 2017. She then joined the State Department under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Current U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley—who announced she will resign from her position at the end of the year—will work with Ms. Nauert to prepare for the transition, Mr. Trump said.

“She’s very talented, very smart, very quick and I think she’s going to be respected by all,” Mr. Trump told reporters about Ms. Nauert.

The ambassador and attorney general positions require Senate confirmation, with hearings under the Senate Foreign Relations and Judiciary committees, respectively. Hearings are likely to begin next year once the 116th Congress begins in January. The president added that he hopes the confirmation process will be quick.